People have asked me why we’re not more emotional,” Matheny said in his office after Sunday’s game. “They say that we look subdued, always intense. That our actions are methodical, robotic at times. That’s what got us here. This isn’t the time to change it.”

It’s hard to argue with the manager’s assessment. The Cardinals finished with 97 victories, most by a Cards team since 2005, and tied with Boston for No. 1 in the majors this year.

Their 54-27 showing at Busch Stadium matches the 1985 team for the best single-season home winning percentage (.667) by the Cardinals since 1944.

A postseason theme has emerged, and it echoes the mantra that surfaced before the start of 2013: remember the fall of 2012. Remember falling to San Francisco in the NLCS.

The Cardinals’ veterans still haven’t forgotten. They still aren’t over it. It’s why Matheny resists GM John Mozeliak’s urgings to smile and put on a happier face.

Here's the most impressive aspect of the Cardinals' division championship: they prevailed over two other outstanding teams, Pittsburgh and Cincinnati.

The 97-win Cardinals were better this year (regular season) than they were in 2011, when they won 90 games, and 2012, when they won 88.
Here are a few numbers that help put the Cardinals' Central title and No. 1 NL seed in perspective:

* Since MLB switched to a three-division format in each league in 1994, this was only the sixth time that a division had three 90-plus win teams. St. Louis won 97, Pittsburgh 94, and Cincinnati 90.
* Since the format change, this was only the second time that an NL division had three 90-win teams. In 2002 the NL West had Arizona (98 wins), San Francisco (95) and Los Angeles (92).
* The 2013 Cardinals faced more esteemed and difficult competition at the top of the division than any of the division-winning teams managed by Tony La Russa.

The Pirates were hardly pushovers; the Cardinals had to work like mad and kick in with a strong finish to put the division away, and didn't clinch until Game No. 160.

The Cardinals went 9-10 against Pittsburgh this season and were 11-8 vs. Cincinnati.

The Cardinals won only three of 10 games at PNC Park in Pittsburgh and split the 10 games at Cincinnati. The Cardinals were 6-3 against both teams at Busch Stadium.

The Cardinals (1st), Pirates (3rd) and Reds (5th) ranked among the top five in wins in the NL. The three teams were among the top 11 in wins in MLB. All three teams finished in the top five in the majors for best overall ERA, and each were in the top five MLB for best starting-pitching ERA.

The original purpose to this piece was to point out that the Cardinals managed to finish with the league's best record while competing in a division that had three 90-win teams for only the second time in the last 19 years of National League baseball.

MLB.com announce the top outfield prospects in all of baseball. Who's #1?

Talk about setting the bar high. Last year's Top 10 outfielders list was led by the two players who ended up as the Rookies of the Year. Bryce Harper of the Nationals and Mike Trout of the Angels obviously have graduated, but this year's Top 10 outfielders list has a ton of future rookie-award candidates on it. And there are some new names, with only three outfielders returning from 2012.

1. Oscar Taveras, Cardinals: The Cardinals' signing of Taveras out of the Dominican Republic in 2008 for a mere $145,000 could go down as one the biggest bargains in recent memory. Perhaps the best pure hitter in the Minors, Taveras handled a double jump to Double-A last season by going to the Futures Game and earning Texas League Player of the Year honors. Taveras has done nothing but hit for plenty of average, and the power continues to come, along with improved plate discipline. He has everything to be an All-Star-caliber outfielder who hits in the middle of a big league lineup for years.

Tied for the lead of all teams with the most players on the top 100 prospects team, 6.

Taveras is a beast.

I don't get the Barry Bonds comparison (will have to go watch the clip). It makes sense if you're just talking about his bat. But Taveras isn't as fast/the base-stealing threat Bonds was in his youth, and Taveras also doesn't throw like a girl like Bonds did (making him a viable RF or even CF in a pinch and adding some defensive value).

I like Taveras' bat more, but Profar's positional scarcity and ability to help with his legs (while playing in a hitter's paradise) probably give him a slight edge. Whichever one I nab, they will make a nice addition on the shelf next to Mike Trout ($8), Bryce Harper ($5) and Chris Sale ($4).

I'd be interested to hear thoughts on Shelby Miller and Matt Holliday. I can keep Miller for $4 at my last keeper spot and am trying to sort out how likely he is to make the rotation at some point this year. Holliday is my other option at my last keeper spot. He's a bit pricy ($32 - $300 cap, 24 players) and I'm worried about his late-season drop-off/age.

I don't get the Barry Bonds comparison (will have to go watch the clip). It makes sense if you're just talking about his bat. But Taveras isn't as fast/the base-stealing threat Bonds was in his youth, and Taveras also doesn't throw like a girl like Bonds did (making him a viable RF or even CF in a pinch and adding some defensive value).

I like Taveras' bat more, but Profar's positional scarcity and ability to help with his legs (while playing in a hitter's paradise) probably give him a slight edge. Whichever one I nab, they will make a nice addition on the shelf next to Mike Trout ($8), Bryce Harper ($5) and Chris Sale ($4).

I'd be interested to hear thoughts on Shelby Miller and Matt Holliday. I can keep Miller for $4 at my last keeper spot and am trying to sort out how likely he is to make the rotation at some point this year. Holliday is my other option at my last keeper spot. He's a bit pricy ($32 - $300 cap, 24 players) and I'm worried about his late-season drop-off/age.

What say you, Cards fans?

yes. If a pitcher goes down or performs poorly, he's first up. We have 3 candidates that could **** up. He will see the mound quite a bit.

Holliday is a consistent .300/20-25/100 hitter every season for the 7-8 years. He usually starts off slow and then he's really hot and then the fall off at the end.

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I saw the Bonds comparison, and I didn't get it either. Young Bonds didn't have near the power that I've heard Tavares has, but was faster & a better base stealer. The comparison I've heard that makes the most sense (and still sounds pretty good) is Vlad Guerrero. If he's that good, I'll take it.

I saw the Bonds comparison, and I didn't get it either. Young Bonds didn't have near the power that I've heard Tavares has, but was faster & a better base stealer. The comparison I've heard that makes the most sense (and still sounds pretty good) is Vlad Guerrero. If he's that good, I'll take it.

Say, did any of you see MLB Network's top 50 prospects show? It's supposed to air again at 6pm et (5 pm ct) tonight. Cards well represented, as are the Royals. Also, the Rays have a couple 9f ex-Royals.

I saw the Bonds comparison, and I didn't get it either. Young Bonds didn't have near the power that I've heard Tavares has, but was faster & a better base stealer. The comparison I've heard that makes the most sense (and still sounds pretty good) is Vlad Guerrero. If he's that good, I'll take it.

I'm not sure Oscar has the power that Vladdy has...afterall, I'm pretty sure Vladdy was 'enhanced' during his peak power years. And really, I don't see Oscar being the base-stealer that Vlad was during his peak either.

Maybe Chase Utley? But I think Tavares is a more aggressive hitter than Utley; probably won't have the OBP that he had. Maybe Bernie Williams? But again, Bernie drew a ton of walks.

Really, if you combine Bernie's batted ball profile with Torii Hunter's aggressive approach, I think you have Oscar. But a lot of those guys I'm a little reluctant to compare him to started drawing more walks as they got a little older, so maybe that's in store for Tavares as well. If he ever really refines his eye, he could easily be a Bernie Williams or Bobby Abreu type hitter.

Let's just compare him to All-Stars right now. We'll worry about comparing him to HOFers when he gets his 1000th hit or so...

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